Ore washer or concentrator.



PATENTED JULY 9, 190 7 E. A. WALL. ORE WASHER OR GONGENTRATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 2.1906.

3141.); fox

ENOSA. WALL, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

ORE WASHER R CONGENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1907.

Application filed November 2,1906. stun No. 341,726.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enos A. WALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain T "new and useful Improvements in Ore Washers or Concentrators, of which the following is a. specification. My invention relates to that class of machines which are designed to receive finely crushed or commln'uted met-alliferous ores or sands and water, and are so manipof the heavier and valuable particles of ore from the ,gangue of the same. The machine and methods in commen use, adapted to this purpose, are numerous and of ous particles of crushed or comminuted material into great variety in form of construction and method of opshall be composed of particles as nearly. es practicable of the same relative size. The coarser portions are then subjected to a process familiarly known aslfjigging,

. while the finer portions are treated with 'ndiffercnt success upon some one of thevarious types of jerking or bumpingt tables in common usej or, ii the material be very finely pulverized or slimed then upon some form of revolving .buddleWor traveling belt. In all of the latter named machines, the finely pulverized ores are spread upon the surface of the machine in a thin sheet or film-,and the separation of the valuable portions thereof is then effected by means of a thin sheet of water pussed over-the mass, the operation being assisted by a reciprocal-vibratory or jerking motion applied to the muchine. Many of the machines in use for this purpose are efiici ent and successful in their operation to aprofitable degree, but all are deficient in important respects, and are especially limited in ca-' pacity and withal involve excessive cost in operation. My machine differs radically from all those in use in all essential respects, except that its operation is attended with similar reciprocating vibratory motion; its effective principle, howcvcr, bears close relation to that ofthe mincrssluice used in extracting gold from aurilerous sands or gravel, which is simply a long walls, but is upon at both ends for the free introduction and passage of watciggravcl und'sunds. In operation various kinds of obstructing rifilcs, such as blocks, sluts or perforated boards are placed in the bottom of the sluice in such manner as to provide numerous small re-' ccsses and crevusses in which the gold, by reason 01' its ulated .ns to agitate the mass and produce a. separation lighter and worthless sands composing the so-called different grades or classes in which each separate class wooden box or (rough having a bottom and two side.

the head or intake, toward the tall or discharge portion at such degree as will cause the auriferous sands and gravel (when mingled with a proper volume of water) to drift forward over the rifiles to and over the discharge part, while the contained gold settles to the bottom and finds lodgment in the numerous recesses provided by the rifiies and is there held secure from the action of theoverflowing current of water and driiting sand and gravel. This is the most simple and effective of all concentrating devices and possesses ideal conditions for the treatment of the bascr metalliferous ores, but the extreme limit of its capacity to'retain large quantities of the concentrated product, renders its use in its present form absolutely impracticable, for the reason that it would be impossible to provide capacity in the rifiles of an ordinary sluice to impoundbut a few pounds of theconcentmt ed material at one time; for, as

in the case of gold, but few ounces are seldom recovered in a days run of perhaps a thousand tons of gravel;

wherei'i-s, in the treatment of a like volume. of metallif- I erous ores, from twenty-five to a hundred and fifty tons of concentrated product would result. In the operation of the miners sluice the coarse gravel and finest sands are treated together without any preliminary ussorting or classification, the mass being passed through the sluice in such volume as to produce a continuous flow of it stniturn of sand and gravel .upon the floor of the sluice seveml inches in thickness, but the agitation of the particles caused by the niovcment of the mass is such as to cause the gold to settle to the bottom at once, and become securely lodged in the meshes of the rifllcs,

the fincr particles being less liable to loss than those of the largest size, and similar results would follow the treatment of metalliferous orcs in the minorssluicc until the rifiies became filled, after which, of course the entire mass would be-carricd forward with the flow of water into the waste dump.

The object of my invention is to secure the conccntrating effect of a flowing stream of water mingled wiih crushed or comminuted mineral ores, or nictallifu'rous sands as in the operation of the mincrs sluice, and to secure its continuous operation by withdrawing continuously and automatically the valuable portions of the moving mass as rupidly as it settles upon the floor of the sluicc, and without disturbing the concentrating effect of the moving volume of pulp and water. This obj cct I accomplish by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings in which}- Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved ore washer; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. l; and Fig. 3 isa view similar to Fig. 2 showing the washer provided with a concave bottom ands. slightly modified form of riflle. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine.

A designates a tubular washer in the form oi an 'elongated flattened box closed on all sides. The head A. of the washer is inclined upwardly at an angle of about thirty degrees and is open at its upper end to receive the material to be treated. The tail board A? which closes the opposite end of the WilSl'lGl is also inclined up to the top of' the washer to an outlet a therein; this outlet. being, of course, considerably lower than the inlet at the head A", so that the washer will alwaysreinain full olwater during action.

The top of the Washer A forms the bottom of a water chest A and through this top extend into the Washer :17 series of tubes A". These tubes are placed over the entire top of illlEJWfiSllGh at intervals of about two inches and extend down to within a small fraction of an inch from the floor of the washer. Water is supplied to this chest or reservoir A by means of a flexible pipe A having'a valved connection at a with the chest.

The washer A' is suspended near its four corners within a framework B, by means of links I) pivoted at their lower ends to the washer and at their upper ends .pivoted to plates 1) secured to the lower ends of screws Ir mounted in bearings b and provided thereabove with-adjusting nuts b" so that the washer may be raised or lowered.

'lhe washer may be meiprocated by any Slllldlilo means but l .prefer the mechanism shown which con sists of a rotary cam working against a tappet or arm (V projecting up from a rod 0 extending from the head of tho w-.r: her through an opening in a. post 13 and provided at the outer side of the post with a butter or collar 1", and at the inside of the post with a spiral spring r. hearing at one end against the post and at the opposite end bearing against an adjustable collar 6- on the rod so that when the cam forces the rod to the left it will compress the spring until its shoulder passes the tappel whereupon the spring will be suddenly rel 'ased andlhrow the washer towards the tail end until it is suddenly stopped by the butter striking the post. The opposite or tail end of the machine is rovided with a spiral spring 03, the outer end of which is secured adjustably to a post B by means ot a nut on a threaded extension ofthe spring.

in order to secure the concentrating effect of a flowing stream oi water mingled with crushed or eonnniz-utcd urcs or melalliferous sands as in the miners sluice and to secure a continuous operation by witlnlrawing continuously valuable portions of the moving mass as rapidly as it settles upon the iloor oi the washer without disturbing the (oncentrz'tting effect of the moving volume oi pulp and water I provide narrow transverse slots (1 at short intervals, in the bottom of the washer beneath which openings 1 place V shaped receptacles ll, secured to the bottom of the washer. These are placed at intervals of two to four feet apart according to the mineral to be treated. The slots (1. nearest the head of the washer are each provided at their edges next to the head with an obHliilt'tiiig rillle l) [tn-mod oi a thin sheet metal plate which extends entirely across the bottom ot' the washer. 'lhese rilllcs 1) r -ed by hoods D .l'ormed oi sheet metal plates attached to the lloor Thus it will be seen that in order that the bottom stiatum of mineral which forms on the bottom of the washer when in operation may pass through openings a and into the receptacles D, it must pass under the depending edges of the hoods D and then rise over the rifiles. It is evident therefore that before heavier mineral can sopass over the ritlles the stratum of such mineral must attain a thickness equal to the height of the riflle. Whereupon if the mass including the heavier concentrated mineral forming the bottom stratum be made to flow forward er plally, any additions to the stratum of concentrated mineral must force an equal amount forward beneath the hood D over the rilile D and into the receptacle D, while the lighter portions constituting the waste-sand and ganguo being borne. up bythc lipavi'er material, will be carried forward over the hoods to the tail forturther treatment.

and its propose is to damor obstruct the flowofthe bottom stratum of the minoal and shade that have passed the first named rilllesandraufie the same to flow into the receptacle D. These receptacles- D are provided in their bottoms with discharge valves or gates d and also with flexible water supplypipes (1,

leading from a main or pipe and provided with suitable valves (P. The operator may withdraw from this last receptacle D, through its gate 11, the remain-' ing unconcentrated portions of mineral together with a limited quantity: of the heavier non-minoral sands for retreatment upon machines adapted to the recovery of the valuable mineral of that class.

The operating mechanismwill impart a bunipingfor jerking motion to the washerand cause the evince trates lying next to the floor to slide forward at each throw, jerk or bump of the washer under the hood and over the rillle as above described.

In operation, the waterand the upper and lighter stratum oi gangue will travel much faster than the lower stratum and man open top washer the finely divided or slimcd mineral will float near or upon the surface or the tor and is thus carried out with the waste so that it is necessary in such washers to place thesame nearly or quite level in order that the llow maybe suitieicnlly slow to give sullicicnt time for the liner particlc's to settle, but this causes the coarser sands which are kept. partially suspended by the oscillation of he washer, to move forward too sl wly and so reduce the capacity of the machine. "lo over-come such objeclionsand secure inlp rlanl additional advantages when treating orcs conlaiuing an excessive proportion oi lincly divided or sIinn-d ores, I close the top oi my washer and arrange its tubular intake or hcad at an angle so tlial it projects above the body ol thew sucr about l\\'o l'cct and also closoiprd incline the tail end as before described. By this construction, when the vashcr in in operation with the body portion at. about a lcvcl. the body portion will at all times be til-led with llowing water conlincd by the cover w" the hydrostatic pressure of the water in the inclined Three or four riliies constructed as (lo-- scribed will he SlllllilQilito extract. all recoverable,

head portion will force the sands through the v level body portion and out over the elevated tail or discharge end. Instead of floating on the surface therefore, the finely divided or slimed minerals will settle to the bottom and combine with the coarser mineral of its kind while the Waite material will be forced rapidly forward to the discharge by the pressure of water. This finely divided or slimed mineral, however, has a tendency to adhere more-"tenaciously to the floor of the washer than the coarse!- mineral, but this deficiency is overcome by means of the shallow water chest or tank A and the tubes de'pending therefrom as water under pressure may be introduced close to the bottom of the washer throughout its entire area to gently agitate the adhering slixnes upon the floor and render them susceptible to the bumping or jerking action of the washer and the flow of water therethrough.

The washer may be constructed of wood or other suitable material and its dimensions may be considerably varied according to' the material to be operated upon. The bottom may be flat as in Figs. 1 and 2, but it may be concaved as in Fig. 3 in which event the riliic D and hood D will not extend across the entire width of the floor, but will be narrow and located in the lowest portion of the floor.

In order to discharge the concentrate as rapidly as it accumulates in the receptacles D, but so that none of the feed or wash water will be allowed to escape into the reccptaclc with the concentrate, the gated is opened sn'llicicutly to permit the discharge of the concentrate as rapidly as it forms and a suiiicient quantity of water l'rom pipe (1 is admitted into the receptacle in sufficient volume to keep the receptacle filled and in addition fill the gate.

Should more water he allowed to flow into the receptacle D than can pass out through the gate, the excess would rise and (low up in to the body of the washer without interfering with the concentration or discharge of tho mincral into the receptacle D. This is also true in regard to the last rcccptaclc next to the tail.

it will he understood that by tubular body adapted in be filled with water as used in the claims, I mean thatthc said body or sluice is closed at its top and that I the ends arc likewise closed or raised from the bottom in contradistiuction to an open top trough open at its ends 1. An ore \\!1Sllll or com-cnirni'or comprising u horizonlnliy disposed tubular body. having lts'hend cnd extended upwardly nhovc the top oi the body to give the proper bond to the wider and ore lcd therein and hnvlm: its upposlle or toll end closed nud provldcd with on onilhr for the waste material and water at its upper portion above the level of the ripper inter-uni surface of the body; whereby the tubular body is maintained completely lillcd with \vulei'. ilnd. air contnct with lhc contents avoided, and means for importing n lOligltlilllllfli l'0(ll)l'(llfll.tiiig movement to the tubular body adopted to cause the com-entrzlte to move towurd lhe lull end of the body. v

2. An ore \vnsher or conccnil'nlor' comprising a hori'/.ontnlly disposed tuhulnr body. having its hcud end cxicndcd upwardly nbovejhe top of the body to give lho proper head to the writer nnd ore t'cd therein and having ils op positc or toll end closed nnd provided with an outlet [or the wnslc material and writer at its upper poi-lion above the level of lhc uppcr luternui surface ol' the body; where by the tubular body is maintained completely filled with water, and air contact with the contents avoided, means for automatically effecting a continuous discharge of the concentrate through the bottom of the body. and means for imparting a longitudinal reciprocating movement to the tubular body adapted to cause the concentrate to move iownrd the tail end of the body.

3. An ore washer or concentrator comprising a horizon tally disposed-tubular body having its head end extended upwardly above the top of the body to give the proper head to the water and ore fed therein, and having its oppositcclosed end provided with an outlet for the waste material and water at its upper portion nbovethe level of the upper internal surface of the body; whereby said tubulnibody is maintained completely filled with water, rind air contact with the contents avoided; the bottom of the body having n discharge opening for the concentrates, n i-iiile at the bend side of the dlschsi'ge opening, ahood over the suid-opcnlng and rillie, a receptacle below saidopening, a discharge 'valve or gate for said receptacle. :1 water supply for said receptacle to admit water thereto under pressure, and means for imparting longitudinal reciprocation to said body adapted to feed the concentrate toward said receptacle.

4. An ore washer or concentrntor comprising :1 Horizontally disposed tubular body having its head end extend ed upwardly above the top of the body to give the proper head to the water and ore led therein, and having its opposite closed end provided with an outlet for the waste material and water at its upper portion above the level of the upper internal surface oi the body; whereby said tubuiur body is maintained completely filled with water, and

nlr contact with the contents avoided the bottom of the body having a discharge opening for the concentrntes,'a l'iiile at the head sldeoi the discharge opening. a hood over the said opening and viiilc. a receptacle below said opening. a discharge valve or gate for said receptacle, :1

water supply for said receptacle to admit wntcr thereto under pressure. an integral water chest on the upper side of the body. tubes leading from the chest to near the floon of the body, nnd mcnns i'or importing a iongitu linnl reciprocntion to said body ndupted to fced the concentrate townrd said receptacle.

An ore wnshcr or concentrator comprising a horizontnlly disposed tubular body having its head end extended upwardly above the top of the body togive the proper head to the water and ore fed therein and having its opposite orctnil end closed and provided with an outlet for the waste nulierlnl and water ht its upper portion above lhc level of the upper internal surfncp of the body; whereby the tubular-body is maintained completely filled with waiter, and uh contact with the contents avoided. means for collecting and discharging the concentrates, springo nt the ends of the tuhuinr body. means for moving'the tubulnr body in the direction of its head against the action of sold springs and suddenly releasing it, and a bumping mcchunism at the bend end of the tubular body.

6. An olc vvusher 9r concentrator comprising a horlzonplcicly llllcd \vlih wnior'und uir contact with the contents nvoldcd. menus in the bottom of the tubular body for dischnr'ging the conccntrnics. :1 Water chest forming the top. of the body and having discharge tubes extending down close to the liner of said body and means for importing a longrltiullnnl reclprm-utlonyto the body adapted to feed the concentrates toward the tail end.

ln icslhnouy whcl-oolf l nllix my signature in presence of 

